Collapsible parcel carrier



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Filed July 18, 1947 M @In I June 7, 1949. s. FRIEDMANN ET AL 2,472,203

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Patented June 7, 1949 COLLAPSIBLE PARCEL CARRIER Siegfried Friedmann andErna Friedmann, St. Louis, Mo.

Application July 18, 1947, Serial No. 761,942

4 Claims. (Cl. 280-51)` This invention relates to collapsible parcelcarriers, and more particularly to a collapsible wheeled parcel carrierwhich may be folded into a compact form.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a wheeledparcel carrier of the type comprising a rigid frame, mounting a pair ofwheels, and a collapsible bag, in which the frame may be folded backupon itself, and the bag may be folded upon the opposite face of theframe, to the end that the folded frame and bag lie flat when thestructure is in the collapsed position. In this position the collapsiblebag does not come between folded portions of the collapsible frame, andthus there is no danger of puncturing or tearing the bag, andfurthermore the collapsed structure is more compact.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of adevice ofthe type described which is of simple, rugged construction, which may beeasilymanufactured at a relatively low cost, and in which the bag may bereadily removed from the frame structure for separate use if desired orwhich may be folded and collapsed therewith.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the inventionwill bemade fully apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken in con- `iunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a parcel carrier constructed inaccordance with the invention and showing the same in unfolded position.

Figure 2 shows a front elevational view of the parcel carrier incollapsed position.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the parcel carrier in collapsedposition.

Figure 4 shows the collapsed parcel carrier in side elevation.

Figure 5 shows, in front elevation, the frame of the parcel carrier withthe parcel container removed.

Figure 6 is an elevational view showing the back of the parcel carrierin unfolded position, and with a portion of the back part of the bag orparcel container broken away to show underlying construction.

Figure 7 is a detail, showing, on a reduced scale, the form of the backportion of the parcel container as it appears before being sewn to theiback of said container.

Figure 8 is a. fragmentary perspective view showing the construction ofthe lower portion of the bag or parcel container. l

In the drawings, reference numeral IU indicates generally a collapsiblebag or parcel container, the upper portion of which is formed of canvasor similar heavy material, the bottom of which consists of upper andlower layers of heavy fabric and an intervening piece of wood, asindicated at II in Figure 8. The sides of the bag I0 are adapted to foldinwardly along the lines I2 and I3 and when so folded the bottom II isfolded upwardly in which position the bag lies at in the manner of afolded paper sack. The bag so folded may be again folded intermediatethe length thereof so that it will lie flat against the upper portion ofthe frame indicated generally at I4. The lower portion of the bag is notattached to the frame I4 in any way so that this folding operation canbe readily effected. The bag is of such length as to come within abouttwo inches of the rollers at the bottom of the frame hereinafterdescribed.

The frame I 4 is formed of two sections I5 and I6, which sections arehinged on the back face thereof as indicated at I1. On the front sidethereof the two sections are secured together by a pair of tensionsprings I8 normally biasing the frame into an uncollapsed position. Theupper section I5 comprises two wooden frame elements connected togetherby dowels IS, 20 and 2I, and the lower section I6 likewise comprises tworelatively heavy wooden members connected by dowels 22, 23, and 24, onthe lowermost of which, 24, wheels 25 are mounted. When the frame is inits uncollapsed position the wooden members provide two uprights, asseen in Figures 5 and 6, having a length somewhat greater than thelength of the bag I0. To the back of the upper end of the bag I0 is sewna piece 26 of canvas or other material similar to the bag I0, andproviding therewith a skirt adapted to fit over the upper section I5 ofthe frame and secure the bag I0 in position thereon. To this end thepiece 26 is provided with shouldered portions .21 which withcorresponding portions on the bag I4 accommodate the upper ends of thetwo wooden members forming the uprights of this section.

It will be understood that the upper end of the piece 26 and thecorresponding dimensions of the back of the bag I0 is sufficiently greatso that when these parts are sewn together the ends of the uprights willbe accommodated therebetween. At a point somewhat below its upper endthe piece 26 ares outwardly as indicated at 28 to a dimensionsubstantially wider than the bag I0 so that when the piece 26 is sewn tothe back of the bag I0 along the straight edge thereof ample slack willbe provided permitting the skirt so formed to be slipped over the upperend of the section I5 without difficulty. A cutout portion 29 isprovided in the upper end of piece 25 matching a corresponding cutoutportion in the back of the bag I0, and the back and piece are not sewnalong the margin of this cutout portion so that .an opening is providedacross which the .dowel i9 extends as may be seen in Figure 1. On theback of the piece 25 a pocket 30 is sewn for the accommodation ofmiscellaneous items such as money, handkerchiefs, lipstick and the like.

It will thus be seen that the bag `llfl iS held in position on the frameI4 solely by the skirt pro.- vided by sewing the piece 26 upon the backof the bag I0.

A strap 3 I, of heavy canvas or similar material is sewn on the interiorof the bag and extends from the upper edge of the front side thereofdownwardly across the bottom and up the back thereof providing a centralreinforcing rib. From the upper end of the back side of the bag I thefree end of the strap 3l extends through the cutout portion 29 and is ofsufficient length to extend outwardly and downwardly over the outer sideof the front wall of the bag. This end of the strap is provided at itsouter end with button holes 32 positioned to coact with a button 33 sewnon the front of the bag.

In use, the operative position of the parts, as a parcel carrier will beapparent from Figure 1. When the device is to be folded, the strap 3l isunfastened from the button 33 and the bag is folded on the front of theframe in a manner previously described. The lower section I6 is foldedback on the rear face of the upper section I5, there being nothing tounfasten or unlatch in effecting this folding of the two sections of theframe, and nothing opposing the folding except the springs I8. The strap3l is brought over the dowel 24, which provides the axle for the wheels25, and is secured to a button 34 on the face of the folded bag. As seenin Figure 6, the button 34 is sewn on the outer side of the rear wall ofthe bag and adjacent the lower end thereof. When the bag is folded in amanner described the button 34 lies in the position shown in Figures 2and 4 and, in conjunction with the strap 3l, serves to secure the partsin -a folded position shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

In the folded position it will be seen that all parts come compactlytogether so that the same may be carried conveniently by -the dowel 24.It will be seen that no portion of the bag proper, lies between thesections I and I6 when the sections are folded, and `only the thicknessof the piece 26 which comes over the back of the upper section I5 liesbetween the uprights of the sections I5 and I6.

While there has been herein described a preferred embodiment oftheinvention, other embodiments within the scope of the appended claimswill be Obvious to those skilled in the art from a consideration of theform shown and the teachings hereof.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A collapsible parcel carrier 'comprising a normally uprightvertically elongated collapsible frame having ground engaging wheels atits lower end and a transverse handle at its upper end, said framecomprising substantially similar rigid upper and lower sections normallypositioned in the same plane and hinged together at their connectingends so that said lower section'can be swung rearwardly relative to saidupper section to lie coextensively along the back of said lower sectionin the collapsed condition of said sections, the meeting ends of saidsections in the coplanar positions thereof abutting in a mannerprecluding forward swinging of either section relative to the other,spring means yieldably maintaining said sections in coplanar relation, aexible bag on the front of said frame and extending substantially thefull height of said frame, said bag being mounted on said upper sectionand depending freely along the front of said lower section, said 'bagbeing arranged to be folded on a transverse line adjacent to the hingeaxis of said sections in a forward and upward direction on said uppersection as said lower section is swung rearwardly and upwardly againstthe tension of said spring means, whereby the lower part of the bag liescoextensively along said upper section and said lower section liescoextensively along the back of said upper section.

2. A collapsible parcel carrier comprising a, normally uprightvertically elongated collapsible frame having a dowel carrying groundengaging wheels at its lower end and a, transverse handle at its upperend, said frame comprising substantially similar rigid upper and lowersections normally positioned in the same plane and hinged together attheir connecting ends so that said lower sections can be swungrearwardly relative to said upper section to lie coextensively along theback of said lower section in the collapsed condition of said sections,the meeting ends of said sections in the coplanar positions thereofabutting in a manner precluding forward swinging of either sectionrelative to the other, spring means yieldably maintaining said sectionsin coplanar relation, a flexible bag on the front of said frame andextending substantially the full height of said frame, said bag beingmounted on said upper section and depending freely along the front ofsaid lower section, said bag being arranged to be folded on a transverseline adjacent to the hinge axis of said sections in a forward and upwarddirection on said upper section as said lower section is swungrearwardly and upwardly against the tension of said spring means,whereby the lower part of the bag lies coextensively along said uppersection and said lower section lies coextensively along the back of saidupper section, and a strap secured at one end to said bag with its freeend passed over said transverse handle and said dowel and releasablysecured to the upper part of the bag whereby said frame and said bag aremaintained in their collapsed and folded positions, respectively,against the tension of said spring means and compactly associated forcarrying by means of said handle.

3. A collapsible parcel carrier comprising a normally upright verticallyelongated collapsible frame having ground engaging wheels at its lowerend and a transverse handle at its upper end, said frame comprisingsubstantially similar rigid upper and lower sections normally positionedin the same plane and hinged together at their connecting ends so thatsaid lower section can be swung rearwardly relative to said uppersection to lie coextensively along the back of said lower section in thecollapsed condition of said sections, the meeting ends of said sectionsin the coplanar positions thereof abutting in a manner precludingforward swinging of either section relative to the other, spring meansyieldably maintaining said sections in coplanar relation, a flexible bagon the front of said frame and extending substantially the full heightof said frame, said bag being mounted on said upper' section anddepending freely along the front of said lower section, said bag beingarranged to be folded on a transverse line adjacent to the hinge axis ofsaid sections in a forward and upward direction on said upper section assaid lower section is swung rearwardly and upwardly against the tensionof said spring means, whereby the lower part of the bag liescoextensively along said upper section and said lower section liescoextensively along the back of said upper section, said bag comprisinga pouch having front and back walls, a relatively rigid bottom, exibleside walls rising from said bottom and vertically creased to foldinwardly to bring said front wall against said back wall and permit saidrigid bottom to be folded upwardly against said front wall in thecollapsed condition of said pouch, and means securing the upper part ofsaid pouch to said upper frame section.

4. A collapsible parcel carrier comprising a normally upright verticallyelongated collapsible frame having ground engaging wheels at its lowerend and a transverse handle at its upper end, said frame comprisingsubstantially similar rigid upper and lower sections normally positionedin the same plane and hinged together at their connecting ends so thatsaid lower section can be swung rearwardly relative to said uppersection to lie coextensively along the back of said lower section in thecollapsed condition of said sections, the meeting ends of said sectionsin the coplanar positions thereof abutting in a manner precludingforward swinging of either section relative to the other, spring meansyieldably maintaining said sections in coplanar relation, a flexible bagon the front of said frame and extending substantially the full heightof said frame, said bag being mounted on said upper section anddepending freely along the front of said lower section, said bag beingarranged to be folded on a transverse line adjacent to the hinge axis ofsaid sections in a forward and upward direction on said upper section assaid lower section is swung rearwardly and upwardly against the tensionof said spring means, whereby the lower part of the bag liescoextensively along said upper section and said lower section liescoextensively along the back of said upper section, said bag comprisinga pouch having front and back walls, a relatively rigid bottom, flexibleside walls rising from said bottom and vertically creased to foldinwardly to bring said iront wall against said back wall and permit saidrigid bottom to be folded upwardly against said front wall in thecollapsed condition of said pouch, and means securing the upper part ofsaid pouch to said upper frame section, said means comprising a flexiblesheet lying along the back of said upper section and secured at its sideedges to the side edges of the back wall of said pouch and at its upperedge to portions of the upper edge of said back wall so as to provide aninverted pocket telescoped over the upper end of said upper section,whereby said bag is removably mounted on said frame.

SIEGFRIED FRIEDMANN. ERNA FRIEDMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 909,325 Patch i-- Jan. 12, 19091,409,838 Emery et al Mar. 14, 1922 1,554,034 Richie Sept. 15, 19252,433,886 Bremer Jan. 6, 1948

